Tiger runs away with TCAL title

Leffler got lazy during the summer months, didn't work out and found himself playing catch-up throughout the cross country season.

The Tokay High junior, who attended St. Mary's as a freshman, went into Thursday's Tri-City Athletic League championships feeling like he finally was where he wanted to be, then proved it on a Stockton Soccer Complex 3-mile course he never had run by winning the league championship in 16 minutes, 24 seconds.

Taylor Pablo from St. Mary's won the girls championship in 18:29. St. Mary's won both the boys and girls team titles after completing a perfect TCAL regular season.

"I came in focused on running as hard as I can so I could beat two of the St. Mary's guys I lost to earlier in the season," Leffler said. "(Chris) Hurst and Mitch Flores both beat me in our league meet."

Thursday's meet was not a qualifier. The next step, the sub-sections, is an all-comers meet Nov. 6 at Frogtown on the Calaveras County Fairgrounds that serves as the qualifier for the Nov. 13 section meet in Folsom.

Both Leffler and Pablo, also a junior, are gunning for spots in the state championship meet on Nov. 27 at Woodward Park in Fresno. Both advanced to the section championships last year.

"I didn't work out during the summer, and I regret not working out," he said. "I feel like I'm ready for the peak of the season."

Pablo said she liked running a new course instead of the familiar surroundings of Oak Park.

"There was a lot of shade," she said, "and I liked running the trail part instead of running in circles over and over like we do at Oak Park."

The top seven boys and girls earned first team all-league honors, and the next seven were second team all-league.